Home Energy Scotland loans for double glazing (2026)
Interest-free loans up to £15,000 for every Scottish homeowner — not means-tested, available regardless of benefits or income level.
Home Energy Scotland is the single most generous UK energy-efficiency scheme for mid-income homeowners. Unlike ECO4 (which requires qualifying benefits), HES offers interest-free loans to any Scottish homeowner for energy upgrades — including new double glazing. This guide explains how to apply and what’s funded.
The headline numbers
- Up to £15,000 total loan across all eligible measures
- 0% interest — genuinely zero, across the full term (typically 10-12 years)
- Up to £7,500 for a single measure — so a full double-glazing job is coverable in one loan
- Not means-tested — every Scottish homeowner can apply
- Funded by Scottish Government, administered by Energy Saving Trust
This is a loan, not a grant — you repay it over 10-12 years. But at 0% interest, the total cost is the face value with no additional finance charge. Compare to a typical high-street home-improvement loan at 7-12% APR, where a £7,500 loan might cost £10,000-£11,000 total over the same term.
What’s funded
- Double glazing (single → double, or old polycarbonate / failed glazing → new A-rated)
- Triple glazing (double → triple, if thermal-performance case supports it)
- Solid wall insulation
- Loft insulation
- Cavity wall insulation
- Heating system upgrades (boiler, heat pump, biomass boiler)
- Solar PV and battery storage
- Electric vehicle chargepoints
- Renewable heat measures (heat pumps specifically — separate £7,500 Home Energy Scotland Grant applies on top for heat pumps)
Who’s eligible
- Scottish homeowner (owner-occupier, not tenant)
- Property is your primary residence
- Scottish tax-payer (established residency in Scotland)
- Credit check passes — applied at Home Energy Scotland’s standard credit assessment
- Property has an EPC rating — if no EPC exists, a free one can be arranged as part of the process
Landlords are not eligible for HES loans on rental properties. For landlord-funded improvements, ECO4 is the route.
How to apply — step by step
- Book a free home energy assessment with Home Energy Scotland on 0808 808 2282 or at homeenergyscotland.org. This takes 30-45 minutes by phone or in your home
- The adviser identifies which measures suit your property and would qualify. Typically this includes windows, insulation, and any heating upgrades
- Get quotes from suitable installers — you choose the installer, as long as they’re Certass Scotland or equivalent-registered. Findfitter matches you with 4 vetted installers in your postcode
- Submit loan application through Home Energy Scotland with quote in hand. Credit check takes 2-3 weeks
- Work is carried out once the loan is approved. HES pays the installer directly; you begin loan repayments the following month
Loan repayment terms
- Repayment period: typically 10-12 years (minimum 5 years, maximum 15)
- Monthly repayment for a £7,500 loan over 10 years = £62.50/month
- First payment starts 30 days after the work is completed
- No early-repayment penalty — clear the loan any time with no fees
Can I combine HES with other schemes?
Yes — HES loans can sometimes be combined with ECO4 grants or Home Energy Scotland Grants (which cover heat pumps specifically). The rules: one scheme per measure. You could use ECO4 for insulation (fully funded) and an HES loan for new windows (0% loan) on the same property at the same time.
Frequently asked questions
Is HES really 0% interest?
Yes, genuinely zero. No service charges, no inflation adjustment, no hidden fees. The Scottish Government subsidises the interest cost via Energy Saving Trust. The only costs are the loan principal and the credit check.
What happens if I sell my home before repaying?
The loan is personal to you, not tied to the property. You continue repayments after selling. Alternatively, you can settle the remaining balance at sale with no early-repayment penalty.
My credit’s not great — will I be refused?
HES applies a standard credit assessment but the scheme is designed for broad accessibility, so their threshold is usually lower than a commercial lender’s. CCJs in the last 3 years may cause refusal; older historic credit issues usually don’t. The credit check leaves a standard search marker — it doesn’t damage your credit score.
Can I use HES for just part of a job?
Yes. You can borrow, say, £5,000 toward a £7,500 window job, paying £2,500 cash and the rest via HES. The minimum loan is typically £500 per measure.
How long does approval take?
Typically 3-5 weeks from first Home Energy Scotland phone call to loan approval. Installation happens after that — realistic total timeline from enquiry to completed job: 8-14 weeks.
Get quotes for your HES-funded glazing
Once you have HES approval in principle, you’ll need quotes from Certass Scotland-registered installers. Findfitter matches you with 4 vetted Scottish installers — free, no obligation, 2 minutes. Pass the quotes to HES to finalise the loan.
Sources
From homeowners like you
Saved £3,700 compared to the first big-name quote I got. Same A+ spec, same 10-year insurance-backed guarantee — half the price from a FENSA fitter 4 miles away. Wish I'd done this years ago.
Sheffield S11 semi, 7 windows, aluminium. Saved £1,850 vs the chain quote. FENSA certificate arrived by email a week later — exactly as promised.
Victorian terrace in Headingley — needed sash-style to match the street. Found a heritage specialist locally via Findfitter, otherwise I'd never have known they existed. Beautiful work.